Chrysanthemum plant named Joy

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., plant named Joy and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat and spooned capitulum form; anemone capitulum type; white ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5 to 7 cm. at maturity; uniform 8 to 9 week flowering response; medium plant height; spreading, branching pattern; and uniform, 11 hour short day response to 24° C. night and 38° C. day temperatures under high light conditions.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named Joy.

Joy is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objectiveof creating new chrysanthemum cultivars for pinched, spray pot mumprograms having anemone capitulum type, white floret color, eight weekflowering response and the ability to produce commercially acceptablequality in year round programs. Such traits in combination were notpresent or required improvement in previously available commercialcultivars.

Joy was originated from a cross made by William E. Duffett in acontrolled breeding program in Salinas, Calif. in 1978. The femaleparent was Songster, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,028, originatedby the present inventor from a hybridization of Quills, disclosed inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,401, and an unnamed seedling. The male parent toJoy was Echo, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,973, originated from across between two unnamed seedlings.

Joy was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by William E. Duffett on Nov. 21, 1980 in acontrolled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Joy was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in April 1981in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by a technician workingunder formulations established and supervised by William E. Duffett.Horticultural examination of selected units initiated October 1981 hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor Joy are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

Joy has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity and day length. The observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif.and Leamington, Ontario, Canada under greenhouse conditions whichapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Joy, which in combination distinguish thischrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Flat and spooned capitulum form.

(2) Anemone capitulum type.

(3) White ray floret color.

(4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5 to 7 cm. atmaturity.

(5) Uniform 8 to 9 week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

(6) Medium plant height (requiring 2 long day weeks prior to pinch andshort days and 1 to 2 applications of 2500 ppm B9 SP, the first at 14,the second at 21 days after the beginning of short days to attain aflowered plant height of 25 to 35 cm. in 6" pots).

(7) Spreading branching pattern.

(8) Uniform 11 hour short day response to 24° C. night and 38° C. daytemperatures under high light conditions.

The accompanying photographic drawings depict typical leaf andinflorescence characteristics of Joy. Sheet 1 is a color photograph of aplant of Joy grown as a pinched, spray pot mum, with colors being asaccurate as possible with renditions of this type. Sheet 2 is a blackand white photograph of three views of the inflorescence of Joy. Sheet 3shows the leaves of Joy in three stages of growth (mature, intermediate,immature).

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to Joy is Echo, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.4,973. Reference is made to attached Chart A which compares certaincharacteristics of Joy to those same characteristics of Echo.

Joy differs from Echo by developing a whiter ray floret color, a higherpercent of ray florets with shorter length of tubes, shorter responsetime and a more spreading, branching pattern. The capitulum type anddiameter and plant height are similar.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 2:00 and 2:30 P.M. on Sept. 7, 1983 under 150 foot-candle lightintensity at Salinas, Calif.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Joy.

Commercial.--Anemone Spray Pot Mum.

I. Inflorescence:

A. Capitulum.--Form: Flat and spooned. Type: Anemone. Diameter AcrossFace: 5 to 7 cm.

B. Corolla of ray florets.--Color (General Tonality From A Distance ofThree Meters): White with yellow-green cushion. Color (abaxial): 155D.Color (adaxial): 155D. Shape: Base and lower section generally tubular.Upper section flat with rounded tip. Oar shaped. Day-night temperaturesof 38° C. to 24° C. results in the development of a higher percentage offlat ray florets or reduction of length of tube as compared with 27° C.to 16° C. when a higher percent of spoon formed ray florets develop withlonger tubes.

C. Corolla of disc florets.--Color (mature): 12A-B oxidizing to 155B.Color (immature): 144B to 144C.

D. Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Present disc florets only; scantpollen. Gynoecium: Present both ray and disc florets.

II. Plant:

A. General appearance.--Height: Medium. Branching Pattern: Spreading

B. Foliage.--Color (abaxial): 137A-B. Color (adaxial): 138A-B. Shape:Shallow lobed. Deeply serrated.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF JOY AND ECHO                                                    ______________________________________                                                             CAPITULUM                                                         RAY FLORET  FORM AND    BRANCHING                                    CULTIVAR COLOR       TYPE        PATTERN                                      ______________________________________                                        JOY      WHITE       FLAT        SPREADING                                                         SPOON                                                                         ANEMONE                                                  ECHO     IVORY       FLAT        UPRIGHT                                               WHITE       SPOON                                                                         ANEMONE                                                  ______________________________________                                                 DIAMETER                FLOWERING                                             ACROSS FACE   PLANT     RESPONSE                                     CULTIVAR OF CAPITULUM  HEIGHT    PERIOD                                       ______________________________________                                        JOY      5 to 7 cm.    MEDIUM    8-9 WEEKS                                                           25 to                                                                         30 cm.                                                 ECHO     7 to 7.5 cm.  MEDIUM    9 WEEK                                                              25 to                                                                         35 cm.                                                 ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS                                           PINCHED SPRAY POT MUMS IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                 AND LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO, CANADA                                               ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium,Ramat., plant named Joy, as described and illustrated, and particularlycharacterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flatand spooned capitulum form; anemone capitulum type; white ray floretcolor; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5 to 7 cm. atmaturity; uniform 8 to 9 week flowering response; medium plant height;spreading, branching pattern; and uniform, 11 hour short day response to24° C. night and 38° C. day temperatures under high light conditions.